No evidence of corruption or misappropriation – Court says as it dismisses OSP’s application against Dr Sledge

By
Makay
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Kissi Agyebeng and Dr Sledge

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) seeking confirmation of the freeze of the assets of Sledge Duodu, popularly known as Dr Sledge, Goldridge Refinery Ltd. & others has been dismissed by the Accra High Court.

The case was presided over by Justice Samuel D. Kotey on the 29th day of January, 2026.

According to reports, the Finance and Economic Crime Division 2 of the Accra High Court dismissed the application because the OSP failed to provide evidence of corruption or misappropriation against Dr Sledge and Goldridge Refinery.

The The Law Platform in a report stated, “In a lucid analysis of the issues before the Court, the Court, in consideration of the evidence in the application of the OSP and the affidavit in opposition of Dr Slegde & others before it, held the view that the OSP failed in its application to provide any evidence of corruption or misappropriation by Goldridge Refinery”.

“Per the decision of the Court, a copy of which can be read below, the OSP failed to demonstrate any linkages between funds deposited by the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) into the Fidelity Bank account of Goldridge and the properties of the Respondents seized by the OSP.

The Court, in reliance on the necessary elements of proof for the offence of corruption, indicated the failure of the OSP to identify any public officer involved in the alleged possible offence committed by the Respondents, who are purely private persons”.

“The Court thus suggested in its ruling that the actions of the OSP against the Respondents were attempts by the OSP to enforce contractual commitments by the 2nd Respondent to MIIF.

The Court, without hesitation, thus dismissed the application of the OSP, which sought confirmation of the freeze of properties belonging to the Respondents seized by the OSP”.

It will be recalled that, in September, Dr Sledge was detained by the OSP after he reportedly failed to meet bail conditions.

He was later released from the custody of the OSP after meeting his bail conditions on Monday, September 29.

Dr Sledge is under investigation for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), gold trade programme.

In February 2025, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, revealed the probe into the alleged corruption at the MIIF, alleging that over $94 million in state funds were lost through Goldridge Refinery’s failure to honour trade settlements under the Gold for Oil initiatives.

The OSP then stormed the Trassaco residence of Nana Yaw Duodu, also known as Dr Sledge and his East Legon offices of Goldridge Company Limited.

The OSP raids follow ongoing investigations into the $94 million Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) gold trade programme.

According to the OSP, the raid was conducted under warrants issued by the High Court in Accra, which target suspected corruption and corruption-related offences.

The OSP search led to the seizure of luxury vehicles, jewellery, firearms, and documents connected to landed properties linked to the $94m MIIF Probe.

A post by the OSP on social media read, “As part of ongoing investigations, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) today conducted searches at the Trassaco residence of Nana Yaw Duodu, also known as Dr Sledge, and at the East Legon offices of Goldridge Company Limited. The searches were carried out under warrants issued by the High Court in Accra.

Nana Yaw Duodu is under investigation for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) gold trade programme, which allegedly caused a loss of US$94 million to the State.

The OSP’s Asset Recovery and Management Team seized several items, including luxury vehicles, jewellery, weapons, and documents relating to landed properties”.

See the post below: